Why Can’t Politicians Do Their Job?
America was founded on five basic principles. Freedom of liberty, speech, religion, due process of law, and assembly. Nearly 300 years after these principles were set in place, why is it that we’re struggling to keep these principles alive?
We’re always told that America is the land of the free and the home of the brave. So why is it that we’ve been cooped up in our homes for the past several months and people are afraid to speak out? One of the main reasons is because we have a two-party system.
In America in 2020:
- racism is still an issue
- freedom of religion is blurred
- voter suppression is real
- violence and rioting is taking place before our eyes
All of these things are happening before our eyes and as American citizens, we are supposed to have the right to vote for politicians who reflect our ideal country. However, we’ve voted for hundreds of years and we’re given two choices — the left or the right. This isn’t how things should be.
Just because I like hot food doesn’t mean I’ll never eat cold food. This is the political climate we live in today. No matter which party you find yourself affiliated with, you’re supposed to back your party’s beliefs no matter what.
If you support one liberal ideology that there should be free healthcare for all, you’re boxed into some left-wing nutjob who is extremely progressive and you must love Bernie Sanders. If you support abortion, you’re painted as a right-wing extremist who will stop at nothing to ensure every last abortion is stopped…even if it means the mother would die due to birth complications.
Neither side is right, so why do we only have two choices? Because America is broken.
Protests
Over the past few years, we’ve seen more and more protests break out across the country. Protests for Black Lives Matter, protests for gun reform, marches for science, women’s marches, and many more. As a country that relies on its citizens to shape politics, why is it that so many people are outspoken about the job that’s being done? The bigger question is, why aren’t politicians doing anything about these protests?
We the people have a voice in our country. When we the people speak out, we should be heard, not told to go home. If the Boston Tea Party (a protest) didn’t happen, America wouldn’t even exist today! When people protest, there should be policies that change and actions taken.
American Deaths
As a country, we should never wish death or evil upon our fellow citizens. Yet, since March 2020, there have been over 200,000 American deaths due to COVID-19. Politicians spread false information and tell its citizens not to panic. In America, there are over 34,000 gun-related deaths every year. That averages out to over 100 per day. Politicians respond by saying there should be more guns. Over 600,000 Americans die from cancer every year. Big pharmaceutical companies are in politician’s pockets to lobby for products that are known to cause harm and cancer among its citizens.
What does it take for politicians to care about its citizens? Because people are literally dying at the hands of policies that are being enacted and…nothing.
Laws
America is based on checks and balances. We have three branches of government to ensure that no branch gets too powerful. However, we see laws broken before our eyes daily by the president, by law enforcement, by politicians, and nobody bats an eye. When someone gets caught with an ounce of pot they’re the most dangerous criminal we’ve ever seen and they’re thrown in prison. How can we as citizens be expected to follow and obey laws when the people making them and supposed to enforce them don’t?
When Does Change Happen?
When will things actually change? That remains to be seen. 2020 is an election year and we’re promised the world, by everyone. Politicians will say anything to get elected or re-elected, we’re seeing that daily. After four years of being told we’d see a new healthcare plan, we’re still yet to see it.
After four years of being told Mexico would pay for a wall along our southern border, that hasn’t happened. We were told Hillary Clinton would be put in prison, that hasn’t happened. Many of Trump’s biggest campaign promises from 2016 are still part of his re-election campaign now. As if four years wasn’t enough of lies, we’re supposed to wait even longer?
I don’t think Joe Biden is the perfect candidate, but I think he’s the best candidate. He has plans for the economy. He has a plan for healthcare. He has a plan to eradicate the virus. HE HAS A PLAN. Every day we see Trump fly by the seat of his pants and if he says something that receives backlash, he flips it on its head and says he wasn’t going to do it.
This is an election year and we’re voting for many, many important things. Science, women’s rights, equality, healthcare, freedom, you name it. If it’s important, it’s hanging by a thread in this year’s election.
As a country, we need to get rid of the two-party system and adopt something that allows politicians to work together FOR THE BENEFIT OF ITS CITIZENS. Not their wallets. There need to be term limits. There needs to be a crackdown on lobbying. There needs to be accountability. Changes need to be made that benefit the majority, not the minority.
People don’t go into politics to make a change. People go into politics to benefit themselves. While that isn’t true for all of them, it’s true for the majority. But then again, we’re told to not look at the negative things in life…
